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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 15, 2008 HUBBARD SAYS REPUBLICAN-SPONSORED REFORM MEASURES SHOULD TAKE CENTER STAGE IN 2008 REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION Montgomery – House Minority Leader Mike Hubbard (R – Auburn) on Tuesday said the upcoming legislative session should concentrate its efforts on passing much needed, Republican-sponsored reform measures that the Democrat leadership has killed for the past several years. "From immigration reform to tougher ethics measures to middle-class tax cuts, the Democrat leadership has consistently ignored very vital, and much needed, Republican reform legislation for purely partisan political reasons," Hubbard said. "It is time for our Republican bills to get a free, open and fair debate on the floor of the Alabama House instead of being swept under the carpet by the Democrat leadership." Hubbard noted that in recent years, the Democrats have often tried to misappropriate Republican legislation and issues by having members of their party sponsor bills that are identical to Republican measures they have killed time and time again. "Far too many times, the Democrats have tried to rob our issues and claim them as their own," Hubbard said. "To kill a bill in one session and put your name on it in the next is dishonest to the voters who put you in office. The Democrats are simply playing a legislative shell game with their constituents and hoping they don’t notice the game is rigged." He noted that a package of bills sponsored by Rep. Micky Hammon (R – Decatur) and designed to combat illegal immigration is just one example of how the Democrats talk tough on an issue while working feverishly to kill the legislation. Among the bills in Hammon’s package was legislation that banned illegal immigrants from voting and another that demanded proof of citizenship before accessing public benefits. "The Democrats say they want to stop illegal immigrants from setting roots in Alabama, yet they indefinitely postpone every tough bill that Rep. Hammon and other Republicans offer to address the issue," Hubbard said. Hubbard, who also serves as chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, said legislation returning property tax reappraisals to a four-year cycle is another example of bills the Democrats claim to support but prevent from passing in session after session. "If Republicans support four-year reappraisals and Democrats claim to support them, then why didn’t we pass the legislation when it was first introduced several years ago," Hubbard asked. "It’s simple. The Democrat leadership, which controls the flow of legislation, is hoping their tough talk will mask their total inaction on this and other important issues." The GOP leader said his Caucus will soon release a list of specific legislation they want considered in the earliest days of the upcoming legislation session, which starts February 5.

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An interesting converstation with a friend this morning caused me to pose the following question….

Did the caucus results say something important about the winners, or do the results say more about the losers?

Thoughts? 

Ever wondered why women would want to join AFRW?  Here’s a great article explaining why?

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Happy New Year to all AFRW members! I hope that the holidays were everything that you wanted them to be and that the spirit of Christmas remains in our hearts throughout the upcoming year. Alas, it is time to roll up our sleeves and get to work to elect Republicans across the state of Alabama and most importantly for Washington. Remember this is season for membership enrollment and we want to grow our membership this year to the number of 2008. It is also the time to collect dues. Keep in mind the dues increases from both NFRW and AFRW.

Our first Board of Directors meeting will be held in Birmingham on January 26, 2008 at the ALGOP Headquarters on Highland Ave. Details of that meeting will be sent out soon. Board of Directors consists of all elected AFRW officers, all committee chairs, district directors and club presidents. Mark your calendar now for this meeting.

I hope to blog on our blog site at least once a month to let the membership know what is happening with your organization. Make it a habit to check in and see what is going on, leave a comment or perhaps send in something your self. This blog site was created to give AFRW members a place to go to find important news that affects all of us from state politics to Washington. This next election is very important and the Internet is a tremendous tool for getting out our message. Staying informed will help lead us to Victory in 08!

 

Bobbie Lou Leigh

AFRW President

Today, Alabama’s Ag. Commissioner, Ron Sparks, was named to co-chair the Clinton Campaign’s "Rural America’s for Hilary".  He said he joined the campaign because of "her experience."  Hmmm.  And that would be…….?

Reports are beginning to surface about Marsha Weinerman, a city official from Cambridge, Massachusetts. She’s made news because she decided to shut down the Boy Scouts care package collection boxes. You see, the Boy Scouts were sending care packages for our troops to enjoy at the holidays. But Marsha Weinerman said the Boy Scouts actions are ‘too pro-war’ and ordered law enforcement to remove the care package collection boxes. The Boy Scout’s troop leader is outraged: "We have never seen anything like this decision in Cambridge before,” Patterson wrote. The city is changing for the worse if decisions like this are allowed to be made." Contact Ms. Weinerman and let her know that it is our troops’ service that protects the rights of all Americans - including our freedom to vote: mWeinerman@cambridgema.gov Or call Ms. Weinerman’s office at: (617) 349-4363.

This information might seem unbelievable to many of us, but consider this. I’ve been blogging with a group of Christians for the few days on the subject of war.  The question was posed "Can Christians Support This War".  I’ve been absolutely amazed at the response.  At the time of this posting, there are over 150 comments logged on this topic. You can read the entire discussion by going to www.preachermike.com

Here are some examples of the comments.  

Maybe I’m alone in this sentiment, but I don’t “respect and honor” a soldier any more than, say, a school teacher … a trash collector … a youth worker … or a pianist. Love them? Sure. But I don’t “respect and honor” them because they fight on America’s side.

I struggle w/ being a Christian in America because I don’t believe our government is anything close to ideal and we make our decisions from a position of power w/ the intent of whatever benefits us. For example, so much of our “benevolence” is self-serving. But it is truly a blessing to live in this country. I love my country, I love those who serve, but I’m not, in the immortal words, “Proud to be an American.” If we are serious about His kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven, we must take this issuer seriously and not fall into black/white, either/or thinking.

I think we can support the troops and not support the war.
I think it is time to come home.
It is time to spend money on the American people who appreciate it. Who need it.

 The current war does not pass muster on any of the “just war” tests. It is based on lies and false information. It must end. Brian Mclaren’s “unpublished speech” (that President Bush never made) that didn’t make it to his latest book should be required reading by every church. Sorry, how anyone could support this war is beyond me. When the dimension of faith in Jesus is added in, there is nothing more to say.

The scary part about all this is that this discussion is among Christians.  Christians who don’t feel it worthy to lay down your life for someone in another country or for your own country.  I can tell you that the arrogance in the discussion has totally put me off and made me rethink visiting that blog.  The hatefulness is more than this girl can stand.  But the sad part is that this is not isolated.  There are many "Christians" who believe we aren’t being Christian unless we gather up everyone’s money in this country, give it to the government and let them decide how to distribute it.  But they turn right around and are against fighting a people who have made it their goal in life to kill as many innocent people as humanly possible with no regard the the value of God’s children.  It makes no sense to me.  Perhaps it never will.

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.  John 15:13.